Court Orders Detention Of Suspected Terrorists For 60 Days

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has permitted the Department of State Service (DSS) to detain 10 suspected terrorists, who had planned to launch a Boko Haram/ISWAP cell in Osun, for 60 days pending conclusion of investigation.

Justice Nwite ruled in favor of the ex-parte motion’s lawyer, ruling that it was legitimate and granted.

He then adjourned the discussion until March 3 for comment.

A representative from the organization that is affiliated with the Legal Service Department at the national headquarters, Yamuje Benye, stated in the affidavit that the suspects were detained in Lagos East Local Government Area in Osun State.

He claimed that because they were genuinely unsure of their involvement in terrorism, they were detained on December 16, 2024.

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The respondents were detained while receiving training on how to make and detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), according to DSS, whose preliminary investigation revealed that they were members of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist organization.

The suspects were alleged to be members of the late Abubakar Shekau terrorist group who had fled Sambisa Forest to Osun State as a result of the Nigerian Army’s series of atrocities against them.

The respondents were alleged to be working with the applicant to find other infiltrators who were still at large, according to the statement.

The DSS believes that releasing the respondents at this stage of the preliminary investigation will hinder their efforts to detain other terrorist group members.

It claimed that the respondents’ activities pose a significant threat to Nigeria’s national security and its ability to survive.

In a related development, Justice Nwite also granted an order allowing the DSS to hold Ayomide Akintunde and Nurudeen Adesiyan for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The judge made the order after Y. I. Umar, who also appeared for DSS, moved the motion ex-parte.

After that, the matter was adjourned until March 3 for discussion.

The DSS, in the affidavit deposed to by Mercy Ebo, averred that the suspects were arrested on December 19, 2024, by the Service Tactical Team at Ajape Lane 3, Modakeke, Ife East LGA of Osun.

The agency said they were, thereafter, transferred to its headquarters over intelligence report from a foreign Intelligence Service, linking them with Moroccan Terrorist.

The Moroccan terrorist is being looked into for publishing jihadist publications and purchasing firearms to carry out terrorist attacks on identified targets in Nigeria, the statement read.

According to DSS, the release of the respondents at this time would jeopardise the investigation, as investigation has assumed a wider dimension.

According to the DSS, a thorough investigation into the suspects must be conducted to ensure that Nigeria or the entire world are safe.

Source: Channels TV